Koloma
Koloma is a technology-driven geologic hydrogen exploration company using proprietary data, algorithms, and geophysical surveys to identify and produce natural hydrogen from subsurface formations. It targets enterprise industrial off-takers across data centers, fertilizer, aviation, and heavy transport in the US, Australia, and Philippines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Koloma does
Koloma is a technology-driven geologic hydrogen exploration company founded in 2021 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with a research laboratory at Ohio State University's Innovation District in Columbus, Ohio. The company's core function is to identify, access, and produce naturally occurring hydrogen from subsurface geological formations, where hydrogen is generated when groundwater reacts with iron-rich rock through serpentinization. Koloma applies a systematic six-step exploration process — geologic research and data analysis, geophysical surveys (airborne gravity, magnetics, passive and active acoustic surveys, magnetotellurics), stratigraphic test wells, laboratory evaluation, exploration wells, and land restoration — supported by a proprietary exploration database built from more than 20 years of historical data and proprietary algorithms. The company is the most capitalized player in the geologic hydrogen sub-sector, having raised approximately $501 million across multiple funding rounds (including a $245 million Series A in February 2024) and accounting for an estimated 85% of total startup capital invested in the sector.
Koloma operates as a pre-commercial enterprise and does not yet generate product revenue. Its go-to-market is enterprise-level, targeting future industrial off-takers including data center operators (for 24/7 clean baseload power, particularly for AI workloads), fertilizer and ammonia producers (for low-cost domestic feedstock), aviation and sustainable aviation fuel producers (including United Airlines as an investor), heavy transport (long-haul trucking and maritime shipping via the MOL Switch investment), and hard-to-abate industries such as steel, cement, and glass manufacturing. Distribution is direct enterprise sales supplemented by international licensing and partnership models, as evidenced by the Koloma Australia subsidiary, the Philippines Department of Energy hydrogen exploration concessions in Central Luzon, and strategic partnerships with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Osaka Gas, and Xcalibur Smart Mapping.
Koloma's revenue model is presently capital-funded exploration with planned future revenue from natural hydrogen sales and international technology licensing. The company's economic thesis rests on geologic hydrogen's claimed cost advantage — U.S. Department of Energy estimates indicate potential production costs under $1/kg versus approximately $6/kg for wind-and-solar-derived hydrogen — combined with zero-carbon point-of-use emissions and the ability to deliver continuous, dispatchable clean energy. The company has drilled three exploratory wells since 2022, with a fourth well currently being drilled in Iowa along the Midcontinent Rift. Koloma Australia has established an 18-million-acre land position across Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. Koloma has not yet reached commercial production and remains pre-revenue, but has assembled a deep bench of strategic corporate investors whose downstream hydrogen demand is tied to the company's exploration success.
Koloma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Koloma
- Legal name
- Koloma, Inc.
- Website
- https://koloma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Koloma is a technology-driven geologic hydrogen exploration company using proprietary data, algorithms, and geophysical surveys to identify and produce natural hydrogen from subsurface formations. It targets enterprise industrial off-takers across data centers, fertilizer, aviation, and heavy transport in the US, Australia, and Philippines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Koloma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Natural Hydrogen Exploration and Production
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation) (EUALABAK)
Keywords
Where Koloma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Koloma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Natural Hydrogen Production and Sales: Koloma is in exploration and development phase. Once commercial production is established, the company will sell natural hydrogen to industrial customers, energy producers, and data centers. Natural hydrogen offers lower production costs than manufactured hydrogen due to minimal energy inputs required.
- Technology Licensing (International): International expansion through licensing technology and partnerships, such as the Australia expansion funded by investors at USD $23.8 million and Philippines DOE concessions
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Koloma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Koloma is a technology-enabled geologic hydrogen exploration company that identifies, accesses, and produces naturally occurring subsurface hydrogen using proprietary data analytics, geophysical surveys, and laboratory analysis. Its systematic six-step exploration process is designed to discover and develop commercial-scale natural hydrogen reservoirs for sale to industrial off-takers, with future revenue from hydrogen production supplemented by international technology licensing.
Product overview
Koloma is a technology-enabled natural hydrogen exploration company offering a unified portfolio of exploration services. The core offering combines proprietary data analytics and geophysical survey services to identify and access natural hydrogen accumulations, supported by a dedicated laboratory at Ohio State University for sample analysis. The company leverages its proprietary database and data analytics tools to enable large-scale clean hydrogen production with 24/7 dispatchability and global reach. Operations span the United States (with activities in Iowa, Ohio, and Colorado) and internationally through Koloma Australia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Natural Hydrogen Exploration Services Koloma's flagship service: a systematic exploration program that identifies, accesses, and produces natural hydrogen from subsurface geological formations through geologic research, proprietary data analysis, geophysical surveys, stratigraphic test wells, and laboratory evaluation. Targeted at large industrial off-takers, energy producers, and government entities.
- Koloma Laboratory Services State-of-the-art laboratory services at the Ohio State University Innovation District, providing mineralogy, chemistry, isotopic, and real-time data analysis of solid, liquid, and gas samples to characterize natural hydrogen systems. Supports Koloma's internal exploration program and positions as the world's only dedicated natural hydrogen lab.
- Geophysical Survey Services Geophysical survey services including airborne gravity and magnetics, passive and active acoustic surveys, and magnetotellurics to detect subsurface geologic structures and hydrogen accumulation potential with minimal environmental disturbance. Used as part of Koloma's exploration program to identify hydrogen-rich formations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Potential production cost under $1/kg compared to $6/kg for wind-and-solar-derived hydrogen
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Koloma
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Koloma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Koloma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Xcalibur Smart MappingcoreExclusive partnership to accelerate discovery and development of geologic hydrogen resources worldwide. Xcalibur provides expertise in mapping hydrogen-rich geological formations combined with Koloma's advanced technology and data solutions.
- Ohio State UniversitycoreResearch partnership for hydrogen clean fuel development. Koloma conducts research at the Innovation District lab facility at Ohio State, with CTO Tom Darrah formerly a Full Professor there.
- HondaminorOhio State partnership mentions collaboration with Honda on next-generation battery technology; Koloma also partnered with Ohio State on hydrogen research.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Koloma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hydroma: Canadian natural (geologic) hydrogen exploration company pursuing similar subsurface hydrogen resources via serpentinization. Closest direct competitor in the emerging natural hydrogen exploration category.
- Gold Hydrogen: Australia-listed (ASX: GHY) natural hydrogen explorer with exploration permits in South Australia. Direct competitor in the same geologic hydrogen space and a regional peer within Koloma's Australian footprint.
- Chapman Hydrogen: Early-stage US-based natural hydrogen exploration company pursuing subsurface hydrogen resources. Direct peer in the same emerging category with overlapping exploration methodology.
Emerging players
- H2EX (Natural Hydrogen Energy): Australian natural hydrogen exploration startup focused on identifying and developing natural hydrogen resources in South Australia. Emerging competitor with geographic overlap in the Australian market.
Others
- Xcalibur Smart Mapping: Geophysical mapping and survey services company that signed an exclusive partnership with Koloma. Functions as a technology enabler and adjacent service provider in the natural hydrogen exploration value chain.
- Cobalt International Energy: Deepwater exploration-led E&P company co-founded by Koloma board member Jim Farnsworth. Comparable in the upstream exploration business model and risk profile, though focused on offshore oil and gas rather than hydrogen.
- Monolith Materials: Clean hydrogen and carbon black producer co-founded by Koloma CEO Pete Johnson. Closely related company in the clean hydrogen production space and a relevant precedent for scaling hydrogen technology commercially.
Broad incumbents
- BP: Global integrated energy major with a growing hydrogen portfolio (blue and green) and a board connection to Koloma via former BP SVP Jim Farnsworth. Broad incumbent that could enter or partner in geologic hydrogen at scale.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Strategic investor in Koloma and major industrial player in hydrogen production, transportation, and end-use systems. Adjacent incumbent with strong hydrogen ambitions and existing technology stack that could compete or complement.
- Air Products and Chemicals: World's largest hydrogen producer with major green hydrogen projects (e.g., NEOM). Broad incumbent in hydrogen supply that represents both a potential competitor and a large-scale offtake or distribution partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Koloma social profiles
Digital presenceKoloma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Koloma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Koloma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Koloma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Koloma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Koloma
What does Koloma do?
Koloma is a technology-enabled geologic hydrogen exploration company that identifies, accesses, and produces naturally occurring subsurface hydrogen using proprietary data analytics, geophysical surveys, and laboratory analysis. Its systematic six-step exploration process is designed to discover and develop commercial-scale natural hydrogen reservoirs for sale to industrial off-takers, with future revenue from hydrogen production supplemented by international technology licensing.
Is Koloma a public or private company?
Koloma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Koloma founded?
Koloma was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Koloma based?
Koloma is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Koloma make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Natural Hydrogen Production and Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing (International).
Who are Koloma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hydroma, Gold Hydrogen and Chapman Hydrogen. H2EX (Natural Hydrogen Energy) is listed as an emerging player. Others are Xcalibur Smart Mapping, Cobalt International Energy and Monolith Materials. Broad incumbents are BP, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Air Products and Chemicals.
Does Koloma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Koloma.
What industry is Koloma in?
Koloma's product category is Natural Hydrogen Exploration and Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALABAK, Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation). Its NAICS code is 541360 and its SIC code is 1382.